One of the foremost global challenges pertains to the provision of economically viable potable water for current and future human consumption. Approximately 97% of the Earth’s water resources consist of seawater, with only a scant 0.5% being accessible freshwater suitable for various applications. Furthermore, the exacerbation of global warming due to climate change has significantly intensified the scarcity of water resources, especially in regions vulnerable to climate fluctuations and the Sultanate of Oman is no exception. The susceptibility of Oman to climate change poses substantial risks to its economic development, primarily due to the potential environmental consequences. Climate change is anticipated to manifest in numerous ways within the Sultanate of Oman, encompassing losses in livestock and fishery resources, acute water scarcity resulting from prolonged droughts and escalating temperatures, biodiversity depletion, and degradation of ecosystems. Presently, desalination has emerged as a global expansion to address the challenge of providing drinking water in regions where access is otherwise arduous. Additionally, desalinated water can be employed for irrigation purposes, particularly in arid and drought-prone areas. This approach serves to diminish reliance on water imports, stimulate local economies, and enhance food availability. At the forefront of seawater desalination techniques, Reverse Osmosis (RO) stands as the predominant method, holding an impressive 69.2% dominance in the global desalination arena. Remarkably, the Middle East and North Africa region houses a concentrated majority of approximately 69% of the world’s RO desalination facilities. However, desalination is not a fail-safe process and has many environmental and human health consequences. One of the notable drawbacks of desalination is the discharge of brine from the process, which poses environmental concerns. The assessment of environmental impacts (EIs) stemming from desalination processes is contingent upon several factors, including the source of feedwater, the desalination technology employed, and the management of waste brine and heat generated. Key environmental impacts encompass brine discharge, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, emissions of toxic chemicals, water intake activities, and high energy consumption. Therefore, the imperative for the optimization and advancement of RO desalination processes is palpable. Optimization endeavors are primarily directed towards augmenting energy efficiency, mitigating ecological repercussions, and augmenting comprehensive performance to address the fundamental challenges within the realm of RO technology. Microbial Desalination Cell (MDC) is a newly developed technology that can desalinate water without relying on external electrical sources. It harnesses the electrical energy generated by bacteria as they break down organic matter in water, using this energy to carry out the desalination process. Therefore, MDC is an emerging process that uses microorganisms to generate electricity from wastewater and use it for desalination through a sustainable eco-friendly approach. The focal point of this project pertains to the localization of MDC technology by its integration with a conventional RO plant as the prospective frontier in desalination within Oman to evaluate the economic ramifications and ecological footprints of desalination.
Objective
This project aims to feasibility study of integrating MDC technology with a conventional reverse osmosis (RO) plant in Oman on a lab scale, to evaluate the economic ramifications and ecological footprints of desalination.
Funding Agency:
MOHERI